Communications Officer, Surgery

Overview

The Communications Officer serves as a strategic partner to the Department of Surgery, developing and producing content that highlights its research, education, and clinical contributions for internal and external audiences. Reporting to the Chief of Staff, this role increases the visibility of Yale’s surgical programs while informing and engaging faculty, staff, trainees, and students. The Communications Officer will lead the creation and execution of a comprehensive communications strategy, including writing, editing, and managing content for the department website, digital and social media, newsletters, and targeted outreach materials.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Demonstrated experience in strategic communications, marketing, public affairs, or journalism.
2. Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills across digital and print platforms.
3. Strong project management and organizational skills with attention to detail.
4. Experience managing web content, social media, and newsletters.
5. Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and leadership.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

1. Experience in academic medicine, healthcare, or higher education communications.
2. Experience developing and executing communication strategies or campaigns.
3. Strong creative and aesthetic design sensibility, with an eye for visual storytelling and brand alignment.
4. Understanding of accessibility and inclusivity in communications.
5. Data-driven approach to measuring communication effectiveness.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Manages relationships with external media sources. Pursues media coverage creatively and aggressively. Responds to inquiries from national and international news media, student media, the University community and the general public.
2. Enhances the overall quality of media relations for key stakeholders by preparing them for media interviews. Manages relationships with key campus stakeholders with a high degree of professionalism, judgment and understanding of stakeholder goals.
3. Creates compelling story ideas and narratives; produces content for both external and internal channels; writes copy and social media posts and manages content.
4. Plans social media strategies for key University communications and programs. Monitors University social media assets for negative comments or misinformation.
5. Supports short- and long-term communication planning with insights into audiences, channels and culture; coordinates with other communications professionals to achieve institutional goals; leads the communications process within developed standards and protocols.
6. Supports effective response strategies, often in crisis situations requiring 24/7 attention and intense media/public scrutiny, and articulates the University’s position via personal interviews or written responses.
7. Produces multimedia content and manages the work of graphic and web designers, student interns, printers, video producers and photographers.
8. Manages communication plans for all stakeholders by understanding the significance of campus initiatives and/or academic work; creates compelling stories and messages to translate the significance through language that is clear and accessible for public awareness.
9. Develops and maintains regular contact with media representatives in multiple disciplines.
10. Maintains the Yale brand and graphic identity standards; supports and maintains standard operating procedures; contributes to digital asset management.
11. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Communications or related field and five years of experience in public relations, journalism, television, corporate communications or agency work or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Demonstrated experience in developing communications for a range of media and working with creative professionals in design, photography or video.